7 Best Braiding Hair Brands for Your Next Protective Style

Most braiding hair brands use synthetic hair, which means the hair is made up of artificial fibers instead of real human hair. You can use human hair to braid—and certain looks, like human-hair box braids, require it—but it’s high-key expensive and not necessary for most styles. When it comes to synthetic hair, though, you want to look specifically for kanekalon hair.

Kanekalon braiding hair is a type of high-quality synthetic hair that’s smoother, softer, and less irritating than other synthetic hair types."Kanekalon is typically the go-to choice for braiding because it's widely available in a variety of lengths and colors," says Alexander, adding that it creates a great result for most braided styles. Kanekalon mimics natural hair due to its coarser feel but ability to maintain that human hair-like softness, she explains. Oh, andddd it costs quite a bit less. Win-win.

Not only that, but "kanekalon is also more flame-resistant compared to most synthetic braiding hair, and therefore resistant to dripping or melting," says Alexander. FYI, this is key because you can dip and seal the braids in hot water to create a seamless look. She explains that other types of synthetic hair may require rubber bands, which can diminish the overall look of the braids.

The quality of the hair

If you use the wrong braiding hair, there is a possibility that the result may not mimic what you're going for: "For example, the flow of the hair, smoothness of the braid, or how it lays can come out totally different," says Alexander. This is why kanekalon is such a great choice—it's made with a higher-quality fiber than other synthetic hair that may feel plastic-like to the touch.

The feel and texture

"Most braid styles require a particular braiding hair—whether it is synthetic or human—and every stylist has a brand that they prefer because each one has a different feel or texture," says Alexander. Not only that, "the texture of the braid may work differently with other products used in braiding such as the styling gels or mousse."

• Shanna Alexander is a bicoastal, traveling braider in New York City and Los Angeles. Alexander has been in the industry for over 15 years and began teaching herself to braid in her home country of Grenada. Shanna runs her own braiding company, Tropix Braids, as well as a YouTube channel.

Siena Gagliano is a contributing beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, and has three years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing hair stories, like the best mousses for curly hair and the best shampoos for curly hair. She regularly tests and analyzes braiding hair, while working with the industry’s top hairstylists to assess new products and brands.

Ama Kwarteng was the associate beauty editor at Cosmopolitan for nearly three years, and has eight years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and entertainment across print and digital, including the best protein treatments for natural hair and the best braids for Black women. Her braiding hair picks were based on product reviews, ratings, and personal testing.